This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
2016 RAM 1500 Air Suspension, I have seen many report of a faulty LEFT REARAIR BAGS dropping to the ground making unsafe to drive. I have seen many people repotting the Left Rear bag issues and when taking to the manufacture they refuse to troubleshooting and locate the issue but wants to replace the entire rear bags and compressor for more than $3000
My air ride system has failed three times making the truck unusable and as I looked into it it seem a lot of people are having the same issue. The truck is sitting on the frame and can not be driven even a few miles...
-suspension failure in February 2020. Replaced compressor -failed early January 2021. Replaced compressor. Failed in 1hour of leaving the dealer. -replaced air suspension control module. Failed within 1hour of leaving the dealer. -replaced faulty factory compressor. Failed within 1hour of leaving the dealer. Four air suspension failures in 3 weeks, and 5 total in one year. Vehicle drops down onto the bump stops upon failure creating an unsafe and unbelievably harsh driving experience. Renders the vehicle unable to drive at safe highway speeds. And unusable to tow my trailers.
The air bag suspension malfunctions and doesn't inflate when it's cold out or when we have weight in the bed. We have replaced it every winter since buying it in 2016.
- Woonsocket, SD, USA
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Air suspension compressor failed with truck in motion and the vehicle swerved. Vehicle now sits and drives lopsided. Truck had 59,573 miles when this happened. The internet is full of Ram trucks air suspension failing in cold weather regions over and over and over again. The air suspension is not covered under the power train warranty. It doesn't do any good to replace the failed oem components because they just fail in a year or two again. The safest fix is to remove the air suspension system and replace it with shocks and springs.
Air suspension has four levels. It is stuck on the lowest level and rides very bouncy and jumps violently on all but the smoothest road surface. The dealership estimates the repair at $4000. Youtube has many pages of people with same problem.
Today with the cold weather my air ride suspension froze up causing me to have to drive my truck to work with the suspension lowered completely. The ride was very rough and if I would have had to take any emergency measures I most certainly would have ended up in the ditch. Fca is refusing to help us with this known issue
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. While making a left turn, the front air suspension failed and did not raise back up. The contact called a dealer (byers automotive located at 401 N hamilton, rd, columbus, oh 43213 phone number 1-888-468-1325) and was advised to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000. Consumer stated here are some attached photos for my complaint. In photo you can see the front is dropped to entry mode. While the rear is in off road setting. (the 4th level) entry mode means that means airbags completely deflated. If system is normal it will not allow you to drive in this mode. I will also attach screen shots of what other people have written in the forums I have been looking at.
I was driving down the highway when my 'air suspension needs service immediately'. the air suspension failed and dropped my 2016 Ram 1500 rebel into entry/exit mode. Making it very difficult and rough to drive.
Air ride suspension freezes in the winter, the system locks out and won't try and reinflate the airbags making the vehicle bounce as driving. When the vehicle bounces it becomes increasingly harder to drive on icy roads. Dealer installed a new breaker on the system, but system still locks out. Dealer identified verbally that the vehicle is not suitable for cold climates.
The air suspension is faulty in the Ram. Due to faulty issues it causes the driver to lose control of the vehicle. It is especially faulty during cold weather. During cold weather the compressor fails to function properly resulting in inadequate suspension
These trucks have an air suspension system that has been an ongoing problem. There are multiple verified cases on both the Ram and rebel forums. This air suspension fails and you have no suspension. The truck becomes a "handful" to drive. After the first message appeared on the dash screen we took it to the dealer. They reset the error code and sent us on our way. Just a couple of days later the message reappeared. This time I registered a complaint with fca and they assigned a case manager. The truck went back in today and the dealer tells me that they air compressor is defective. They don't have one as they are on "backorder" and don't know when they will have one, but that we could take the truck. I refuse to let my wife drive this truck for fear of what could happen when it fails. This truck has 16,568 miles on it and it will be three years old May 16, 2019. The case # from fca is 58422515. I really feel that this serious issue needs your full investigation.
During cold weather (below 0) the air ride suspension does not work. It freezes up and creates a dangerous driving condition on rough or uneven roads. The vehicle bounces and looses traction to the road and could cause an accident to occur.
Air suspension has never worked properly during winter months. Had compressor replaced in 2-2018. In the last year I have experienced a minimum of 12 instances where the vehicle will not adjust ride height which I have photos of. When I purchased my vehicle no one told me it would not function properly during the cold months. Most recently I was in to have the auto park recall taken care of. Since this update my truck is total crap. I have lost 3mpg in fuel mileage, the truckss shift pattern and running RPM's have changed and it drives like I'm towing something. When I returned to the dealer I was told to get and after market programmer to solve the issue. Really! so when I go in the next time they can void my warranty. My truck ran like a beast before the update and averaged 18.5 mpg, today I am averaging 14.7 on the same exact trip. Something is definitely wrong with this program.
Pickup's air suspension fails to work in extreme cold. In January of 2018 it was brought in to dealer as compressor had gone out. It was replaced but was delayed due to back order of the part so didn't get pickup back until March. Beginning in January of 2019 when temperatures were sub zero the pickup's air suspension would fail to inflate fully (or at all) resulting in having to drive with little to no suspension. Once temperatures warmed up to or slightly above 0 degrees, the air suspension would work. On Feb 8th, pickup was brought to get an oil change at dealership. After leaving dealership stopped at a store. When I got back in the air suspension appeared to be acting as it did when weather was extremely cold, to which I believed it would pump back up however, instead warning came on screen indicating "immediate air suspension service / repair needed". I drove it back to dealership and they indicated this was likely due to cold and was common with others of this model. Scheduled an appointment and was told to drive carefully home. Since then took to another repair shop and they found an air bag is torn. They can't determine without fixing it if that was the problem, or was caused by the problem (did the air bag tear because suspension went out or did the air bag go out causing the suspension to fail). Cost was around $600 to replace the air bag. Have done checking and appears this is a common problem with this model. The safety issue would be having people driving vehicles without suspension in cold weather.
I own a 2016 Ram rebel 1500 with the air ride suspension. As you are probably aware, there are constant issues with this system. I start my vehicle this morning and upon entering vehicle, a message popped up stating, ' immediate air suspension service/repair required.' The front end was in 'entry/exit' mode and the rear was in 'normal' mode. Upon further inspection, I found a blown 40 amp green fuse that is for the air suspension. I replaced the fuse myself due to convenience issues and noted in my car fax of repair. This and many other issues with this system have erupted and is not acceptable.
2016 Ram 1500 with factory air suspension system fails when temperatures fall below freezing. It fail while in motion or while stationary. The suspension system drops to the bump stops and will not properly inflate to a safe ride height. Once the ambient temperature warms to above freezing, the air suspension system returns to normal operation.
Suspension airbag system collapsed under -15 temps. The truck started and it eventually came back up to normal ride height. Vehicle was parked overnight outside
Unresolved issue by Ram regarding their air ride suspension where the known issue has not yet been resolved, nor has the manufacturer made an attempt recall any parts related. My truck under warranty in January 2018 had a controller and air pump replaced due to air ride dropping to frame when temperatures dropped below 20 degrees. The system corrected itself after temps warmed but then again this January (not under warranty) the same issues. The dealership talked to Ram and they refuse to look into issue. Thousands of Ram owners with air suspension are having same issues. Some can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/551357055052657/ I'm speaking here on behalf of all these owners as it should be Ram's responsibility to cover any related costs to this defect in their system. The trucks become impossible to drive and one cannot know when it will just decide to default, thus making travel uncertain and unsafe. This should be a recall item. Most times the air ride system goes flat in sitting position in cold temps but it has been know to go flat while driving. At which, the truck maintains literally no control as it bounces all over and steering become sloppy. This is unsafe.
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- Cabo Rojo, PR, USA